1 out of 1 people found the following review useful:Fun family tale with special effects by the great Ray Harryhausen and utterly shot in Spain, 3 March 2015

A poor Englishman doctor called Gulliver (Kerwin Matthews) has
adventurer plans , so nothing keeps him in the little town he lives ,
not even his girlfriend Elisabeth (June Thornburn) who wishes to marry
him . He signs on to a ship to India in spite of objections his
beautiful fiancée . But in a storm he's washed ashore and discovers a
fantasy land of small inhabitants called Lilliput in the East Indies
where everyone is about two inches tall . Later on , he managed to
convince them he's harmless and is accepted as one of their villagers ,
but their king wants to utilize him in war against his enemies . After
that , Gulliver goes to land of Bobdingnag where inhabits giant people
.

This is an amusing adventure movie , a colorful family rendition of
Jonathan Swift's classic as well as satiric novel written in 1726 .
Many scenarios have been constructed in miniature , others have been
made by special techniques and remaining are staged by natural outdoors
from Spain such as Alcázar de Segovia, Segovia, Ávila, Palacio de La
Granja De San Ildefonso palace, La Granja, San Ildefonso, Segovia,
Castilla y León, and Paltja d'Aro, Girona, Catalonia . Flavorful
performance from Kerwin Matthews , Jo Morrow , Lee Patterson , Gregoire
Aslan , Basil Sydney , Martin Benson , among others . Adequate and
spectacular art direction by Gil Parrondo who subsequently would
achieve Academy Award for Patton . Rousing and evocative score of
Bernard Herrmann , Hitchcock's regular . Glimmer and glamorous
scenarios well photographed by Wilkie Cooper . Professional though
uneven direction by filmmaker Jack Sher

The highlights of the movie are the great visual effects by craftsman
Ray Harryhausen , including his ordinary monsters using his customary
system Dynamation . After three sci-fi monster films such as The Beast
from 20,000 Fathoms , 20 Million Miles to Earth , It Came from Beneath
the Sea and work with Willis O'Brien in Mighty Joe Young and on an
Irwin Allen documentary titled : The animal world , Harryhausen did the
effects work for The 7th Voyage of Sinbad or Sinbad and the princess
(1958) also starred by Kerwin Matthews , his first split-screen film
shot entirely in color, which was highlighted by Harryhausen's
mythological monsters interacting with actors . Because Harryhausen
worked alone on his stop-motion animation sequences, the filming of
these could often take as long as two years, the most famous example of
the kind of patience required being the exciting skeleton sword fight
sequence in his most popular film Jason and the Argonauts (1963) in
which Harryhausen often shot no more than 13 frames of film (one-half
second of elapsed time) per day . The 1960s were Harryhausen's best
years, among the spotlights being his reunions with dinosaurs and other
creatures in Hammer Films' One Million Years B.C (1966) , The Valley of
Gwangi (1969) , Mysterious Island (1961) and this The 3 Worlds of
Gulliver (1960) . His pace slowed in the 1970s, but he produced three
of his masterworks during that period : The fantastic voyage of Sinbad
(1973); Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger (1977) and Clash of Titans
(1981).

Other versions about this immortal novel are the followings :
¨Gulliver's travels¨(1939) by Max and Dave Fleischer , being an
animated retelling ; ¨Gulliver's travels¨(1977) by Peter Hunt with
Richard Harris , Catherine Schell , in which real life and cartoon mix
in a three-dimensional tale ; TV adaptation (1995) by Charles Sturridge
with Mary Steenburgen , Edward Fox , Peter O'Toole , Edward Woodward ,
Ned Beatty , in which Gulliver/Ted Danson is confined in Bedlam insane
asylum after being lost at sea for eight years and he relates his odd
adventures in the tiny land and among the giants and the silly and
impractical intellectual of Laputa . And recent comical recounting
(2010) by Rob Letterman with Jack Black , Jason Segel , Emily Blunt and
Amanda Peet .

1 out of 1 people found the following review useful:Murder drama plenty of plot twists , thrills and suspense , being inspired by Shakespeare's "Hamlet", 2 March 2015

Crime thriller about a teen believes that her father's suicide was
murder . After popular and charismatic megachurch leader Hamilton
Spears (Malcolm-Jamal Warner) is killed, his teenage daughter Hannah's
(Shanica Knowles) life goes off the rails . The only thing keeping her
together is her new boyfriend, Oliver . When she finds evidence
pointing to a church conspiracy and threats toward her father, she is
determined to prove that Hamilton's death was a cruel murder . She
uncovers a conspiracy among church members and the possibility that her
mother, Martha Spears to be a murderer . As she gets closer to the
truth, she realizes her own mother (Tamala Jones in a Hamlet's
Gertrudis role alike) along with her lover (Michael Beach who plays
Claudio role alike) may be involved in her father's murder and that the
boy (Romeo Miller at an Ofelia character alike) she is falling in love
with may be the son of his killer.

This Lifetime original production includes murder , adultery , twists ,
turns and a series of lies . Megachurch Murder" is not your typical
church movie . The story centers on the mysterious death of pastor
which causes his teenage daughter to go off the rails , she then
discovers by means of a computer her father may have been murdered .
The flick bears remarkable resemblance to Shakespeare's Hamlet play ,
taking here and there several situations and personages such as
Gertrudis , Claudio , Polonio , Laertes , Ofelia and even Rosencrantz y
Guildenstern . The picture has a good cast and support actors who give
acceptable acting . As Tamala Jones has spent the past two decades
making a name for herself in Hollywood and now her hard work is paying
off in big ways , Jones currently stars as Lanie Parish on ABC's
long-running series "Castle" , here she plays a devious church lady in
Lifetime's upcoming original movie "Megachurch Murder" , and she played
a role in the minister's death . The real starring results to be
Shanika Knowles in a Hamlet role alike , she plays some songs too .

The movie packs an atmospheric and appropriate cinematography .
Adequate as well as thrilling musical score by Sean Murray , a TV usual
composer . The motion picture was professionally directed by Darin
Scott . Darin is a nice actor , writer , producer and director, known
for Something wicked (2014) , American Horror House (2012) , Dark House
(2009), Caught Up (1998) and Tales from the Hood (1995) . Rating :
passable and decent direct to video film .

1 out of 1 people found the following review useful:Italian/Spain co-production fright flick about a psycho killer who hacks up brides with a hatchet, 1 March 2015

The man who brought you such successful chillers as "5 Dolls for an
August Moon" , ¨Operazione Paura¨ ,¨Black Sabbath¨ , "Six Women for the
Murderer" , ¨The Evil Eye¨ goes back in this nice film that packs great
cinematography , impressive spectacle and well staged killings . It
begins developing an elaborate animated collage for the film opening
credits , being originally created by the great Mario Bava . The flick
deals with a respected fashion mogul who runs a house of style where
happens several bloody murders and gruesome executions . As a bridal
design shop owner called John Harrington (Stephen Forsyth) kills
various young brides-to-be (Femi Benussi) in an attempt to unlock a
repressed childhood trauma that's causing him to commit murder . John
contracts a new fashion model , that person ultimately being Helen Wood
(Dagmar Lassander) , who eventually gets a little too close for his
comfort . Harrington is facing further torment in the mutually
unsatisfying marriage to Mildred (Laura Betti , originally the script
didn't include the role , it was only after expressed interest in
working with Bava that the director re-wrote the script so that Betti
could have a suitable starring) who subsequently to return to haunt him
as a ghost . Meanwhile , a police inspector named Russell (Jesus
Puente) investigates the strange killings , being his prime suspect
Harrington . When Russel enters Carrington's home , the latter tells
the screams heard are caused by the television set (the TV show that
Harrington refers to in an attempt to fool Inspector is a clip from
Mario Bava's own Black Sabbath (1963) - specifically the "Wurdalak"
sequence featuring Boris Karloff) .

Mario Bava strikes again in this mysterious and grisly picture with
haunting atmosphere , colorful photography and strange musical score .
Bava's great success (the first was ¨Black Sunday¨ or ¨Mask of
Demon¨)is compellingly directed with startling visual content . This
frightening movie is plenty of thrills , chills , high body-count and
glimmer color in lurid pastel with phenomenal results . Interesting
screenplay filled with twists , turns and rare situations by prolific
Santiago Moncada , an usual playwright . This is a classic slasher
where the intrigue , tension , suspense appear threatening and lurking
in every room , corridors and luxurious interior and exterior . Nice as
well as twisted acting by Stephen Forsyth as a psychotic killer who
manages a model house . This genuinely mysterious story is well
photographed by the same Mario Bava with magenta shades of ochre ,
translucently pale turquoises and deep orange-red . Filmed on location
in Barcelona , Harrington's villa , Rome , Paris and studios Alfonso
Balcazar . The Spanish villa that the majority of the film was shot at
was formerly the touristic home of Spanish dictator Generalissimo
Francisco Franco .

The movie well produced by Manuel Caño belongs to Italian Giallo genre
, Bava (¨Planet of vampires¨, ¨House of exorcism¨) along with Riccardo
Freda (¨Secret of Dr. Hitchcock¨ , ¨Il Vampiri¨) are the fundamental
creators . In fact , both of whom collaborated deeply among them , as
Bava finished two Fedra's films ¨Il Vampiri¨ and ¨Caltiki¨ . These
Giallo movies are characterized by overblown use of color in shining
red blood , usual zooms and utilization of images-shock . Later on ,
there appears Dario Argento (¨Deep red¨, ¨Suspiria¨,¨Inferno¨), another
essential filmmaker of classic Latino terror films . Rating : Good,
this is one more imaginative slasher pictures in which the camera
stalks in sinister style throughout a story with magnificent visual
skills.

2 out of 2 people found the following review useful:Pleasant and decent Spanish comedy along with some drama elements , being efficiently directed by expert comedian director Fernando Colomo, 28 February 2015

Spanish Dramedy (Drama and comedy) set in the 20s with emotion , humor
, fun , amusing situations and nice players . In 1919 , a drifter as
well as novice writer , Gerald Brenann, a Brit young of noble family
arrives in Yegen, a village in Alpujarras from Granada province . There
he meets some villagers and then rents a house for a year . Gerard is a
writer and poet and has a few money as well as a love of reading and
writing . His objective is loneliness and writing , having a lot of
books as only company . He's soon the center of attention from his maid
, María (Trujillo) , who has a marriageable daughter , Angeles (Bebe);
from Paco (Guillermo Toledo) , a man who decides to guide Gerald in the
ways of the village and of love ; from the village's priest (Antonio
Resines) , his hidden lover (Angela Molina) , her friend who loves St.
Teresa , and , from Juliana (Veronica Sanchez) , a gorgeous adolescent
who baths nude herself by the river .

This comedy/drama contains a romantic love story , social habits ,
humor , entertainment and including some nudism with strong love scenes
. This is a slightly funny film with entertaining events , giggles ,
emotion , an enjoyable love story and touching scenes at its final part
. The film moves in fits and starts most of which would be desirable ,
with more traps the viewer resists any kind, and some moments of
enjoyment and others quite a few embarrassing with some absurdities and
implausibilities . The flick gives a short description about rural
lives of low-classes in the twenties . This is a typical Spanish comedy
from the 2000s with the usual ingredients such as agreeable humor ,
villagers customs , relationships among people . The roles in this film
are all lovable despite being rather pathetic and unfortunate . Our
starring Gerald must sort out his feelings and face down the
machinations of the village's women , who map a future he doesn't want
. The picture also explores the complex relationship among known Brit
artists such as Ralph Partridge (Laurence Fox) , Dora Carrington
(Jessica Kate Meyer) , Lytton Strachey (James Fleet) , issue formerly
dealt in the film ¨Carrington¨ . The flick attempts to spread optimism
about the events of life , friendship and love , with its amusing sides
but also including some risks . The film deals with the relationship
between Spanish and Anglo Saxon youth , including language problems , a
topic also treated by the director in other films such as ¨Linea Del
Cielo¨ , ¨Efecto Mariposa¨ and ¨Los Años Barbaros ¨ . Sympathetic
performances from protagonist duo who provides a considerable boost to
the result , such as Matthew Goode as the subsequent famous author
Gerald Brennan and Veronica Sanchez , a teen beauty who's the daughter
of a witch . Likable support cast gives good acting such as Guillermo
Toledo , Bebe , Consuelo Trujillo , Mariano Peña , Ángela Molina ,
Mariana Cordero , Antonio Resines , among others . A well acted, so so
crafted, movie that should be considered as a return in form to the
typical Spanish comedy of yesteryear . The picture achieved Goya prizes
for Best Original Score , Juan Bardem , and nominated for Best
Production Supervision Goya Best New Actress , Verónica Sánchez , and
Best Cinematography , José Luis Alcaine and Best Special Effects ,
Reyes Abades.

Atmospheric and appropriate musical score by the notorious Juan Bardem
, a magnificent composer who has composed a lot of films . Furthermore
, a colorful and evocative cinematography by Jose Luis Alcaine who was
first cinematographer to use fluorescent tube as "key" lightning and
deemed to be one of the best Spanish cameramen . Alcaine frequently
works with Pedro Almodóvar , Bigas Luna and Vicente Aranda , as he has
photographed ¨The skin I live in¨ , The bad education¨ , ¨Volver¨ ,
¨Women in the verge of a nervous breakdown¨, among others . Here he
shows splendidly the impressive landscapes from Alpujarras . The motion
picture was professionally written and directed Fernando Colomo .
Fernando Colomo was born in Madrid and is a talented and versatile
writer/director who has made a vast array of often solid and
entertaining films in all kind of genres as comedy, drama and one
science fiction movie (1985 El caballero del Dragón) in a career that
spans over 30 years . Especially known for directing comedies such as
1987 La Vida Alegre , 1988 Miss Caribe , 1989 Bajarse al Moro , 1993
Rosa Rosae , 1994 Alegre Ma Non Troppo , 1995 Efecto Mariposa . And in
the 2000s directed Al Sur Granada (2003) , El Próximo Oriente (2006),
Rivales (2008) and La Banda Picasso (2012) .

2 out of 2 people found the following review useful:Gripping and interesting picture in which an US aircraft is mistakenly assigned to drop the big one on Russia, 27 February 2015

Exciting drama on a nuclear plot includes intelligent dialog ,
brilliant cinematography in white and black , appropriate sets and
sensational performances . Cold War tensions climb to a fever pitch
when a U.S. bomber is accidentally ordered to drop a nuclear warhead on
Moscow . A technical malfunction in the Pentagon's strategic control
system causes an erroneous order to be sent to a B-52 squadron on a
routine training mission instructing the bombers to fly beyond their
fail safe distance . The bombers (which are called "Vindicators" in the
novel) mercilessly head their objective . As the leaders of the two
countries grapple for some kind of solution as time runs out .

Classic dark anti-war drama with magnificent acting by all-star-cast ,
acceptable production design and masterfully realized by the always
original and great Sidney Lumet . It was originally conceived as a
tense as well as thrilling thriller about the possibility of accidental
nuclear war . This nail-biting film contains thrills , suspense ,
intrigue and results a be pretty interesting . Columbia Pictures
produced both this movie and Doctor Strangelove .. (1964). Director
Stanley Kubrick insisted his movie be released first, and it was, in
January 1964 . When Fail safe (1964) was released, it garnered
excellent reviews, but audiences found it unintentionally funny because
of "Strangelove", and stayed away . Henry Fonda later said he would
never have made this movie if he had seen "Strangelove" first, because
he would have laughed too . All shots of US Air Force "Vindicator"
bombers are views of the same Convair B-58 Hustler, taken from a stock
piece of film after the Department of Defense declined to cooperate
with the filmmakers . B-52 and B-58 Stratofortress bombers were
featured in a number of films before and afterward, notably A Gathering
of Eagles (1963), Doctor Strangelove (1964) , By Dawn's Early Light
(1990) and the first Bombers B 52 (1957) . In fact , in the early 1960s
the B-52 , B-58 were cutting-edge technology . Access to it was a
matter of national security , the Pentagon refused to lend any support
to the film after they read the script , as set designers reconstructed
the B-58 bomber's cockpit from photographs . The big screen in the
control room at Omaha was entirely front-projection, and had to be very
carefully contrasted to appear clearly on black and white film . This
posed a problem for the crew, as the air in the room had to be totally
clear of dust so as not to disrupt the image . The screen in the
war-room used the same film-stock but was rear-projection . Cast and
support actors are very good , giving sensational acting such as Henry
Fonda as The President , Dan O'Herlihy , Walter Matthau , Frank Overton
, Larry Hagman , Edward Binns , Russell Collins , feature film debut of
Fritz Weaver and Dana Elcar's first film role . Henry Fonda eventually
saw this as one of his favorite performances and many fans consider it
some of his best work on-screen . The film has no music - either score
or source music - whatsoever. Adequate as well atmospheric
cinematography by Gerald Hirschfeld . The motion picture was stunningly
directed by Sidney Lumet , as research, he read a lot of books about
nuclear war .

2 out of 2 people found the following review useful:Peter O'Toole is magnificent as a deranged sailor in an interesting story of cowardice and redemption, 25 February 2015

Exciting and brooding picture based on the complex novel written by
Joseph Conrad (who also wrote Darkness heart) and brought to the screen
in lavish budget and colorful visual style .After being discredited as
a coward, a 19th century seaman (Peter O'Toole) in British Merchant
Marine lives for only one purpose : to redeem himself. As he suffers a
deep scar and pain for the rest of his life . But then , he becomes
leader of a Southeast Asia village in spite of his past clouded by
allegations of betrayal and cowardice . Meanwhile , the native
villagers are being slavered by a group nasty cutthroats led European
thugs (Eli Wallach , Curt Jurgens) . As the belief shown in him by the
villagers is put to the test .

This is a thought-provoking and intelligent story based on Joseph
Conrad's novel written in 1900. This prestigious novel has been
simplified for easier compression , appreciation and nicely developing
. This adventure flick contains , thrills , action , intrigue and
wonderful outdoors . Excellent acting by Peter O'Toole in the title
role , he is a sailor in Souteast Asia who is adopted by a suppressed
village as its leader . After the film's tepid reception, especially
for his own starring performance, a once-enthusiastic Peter O'Toole
declared, 'It was a mistake and I made the mistake because I was
conservative and played safe and that way lies failure'. Movie's
biggest moments provided by strange acting by the great Peter O'Toole .
Supporting cast is frankly sensational such as Curd Jürgens , Eli
Wallach , Jack Hawkins , Paul Lukas , Daliah Lavi , Akim Tamiroff ,
Andrew Keir , Jack MacGowran ,Ric Young , Noel Purcel , Walter Gotell ,
among others .Evocative and exotic cinematography by Freddie Young ,
shot on location in Malacca, Malaysia Lantau Island, Hong Kong, China
and Angkor Wat, Siem Reap, Cambodia. Although the Cambodian government
never demanded any script approval, one condition of its agreement to
allow on-location shooting in the troubled nation was for the
production company to build a lot of rooms addition to an existing
hotel near the famed Angkor ruins .

Directed and screen-played with awesome style by Richard Brooks . He
was a fine writer/director so consistently mixed the good and average
which it became impossible to know that to expect from him next .
Firstly he worked regularly as a Hollywood screenwriter . After that ,
his initial experience of directing was one of his own screenplays
called ¨Crisis¨. The Richard Brooks films that have the greatest impact
are realized during the 50s and 60s as ¨Cat on a hot tin roof¨,
¨Something of value¨ , ¨Elmer Gantry¨, ¨Sweet bird of youth¨, ¨In cold
blood¨ , ¨Lord Jim¨. Brooks was a writer and director of Chekhovian
depth , who mastered the use of understatement, anticlimax and implied
emotion . His films enjoyed lasting appeal and tended to be more
serious than the usual mainstream productions . Richards formerly
directed two good Western titled ¨Bite the bullet¨ and ¨The
professionals ¨ with various tough stars as Burt Lancaster , Lee Marvin
, Jack Palance and Robert Ryan , including the same musician , Alex
North , and similar outdoors . The ¨Lord Jim¨ is an authentic must see
, not to be missed for buffs of the genre . A magnificent movie ,
hardly noticed for its theatrical release ; however , being nowadays
very well considered . Rating : Above average because of its awesome
acting , dialog , score are world class.

2 out of 2 people found the following review useful:Dramatic as well as interesting TV movie developed on Nazi period with fine performances and atmospheric setting, 25 February 2015

This is a splendid drama set on Nazi time with thoughtful plot and
slick direction by Jim Goddard . The tale of Helmut (Bill Nighy) and
Karl Hoffmann (John Shea) , their turbulent relationships , brotherhood
, their loving with same girlfriend , a nightclub Singer called Mitzi
Templer (Lucy Gutteridge) and final confrontation . Both come of age at
the start of Hitler's power in Germany and experience misfortunes ,
pains and sufferings . Helmut joins the ¨SS¨ commanded by Heinrich
Himmler (John Normington) and eventually becomes a successful flag rank
officer thanks to Heydrich . Karl (John Shea) joins the SA commanded by
SA Chief Ernst Röhm (Michael Elphick) and suffers the darker side of
Nazism after the SA is disbanded and Karl is thrown into prison and
later conscripted into the German army. Helmut meets Heydrich (David
Warner reprised his role of SS-Obergruppenführer Reinhard Heydrich ,
whom he previously portrayed in Holocausto ,1978) and appoints him as
second-in-command . The story also deals with a family formed by father
(Robert Urquhart) , mother (Carrol Baker) and their three sons .
Brother is pitted against brother under the shadow of the Third Reich
until their relationship finishes at the end . As in 1945 Berlin stands
in ruins staying both brothers battling against Russian invasion .

The movie talks about various historic events , such as the
confrontation between ¨SA¨ and ¨SS¨ , taking place ¨The Night of the
Long Knives¨ , it was a purge that took place in Nazi Germany from June
30 to July 2, 1934, when the Nazi regime carried out a series of
political murders. Leading figures of the left-wing Strasserist faction
of the Nazi Party, along with its figurehead, Gregor Strasser, were
murdered, as were prominent conservative anti-Nazis . Many of those
killed were leaders of the Sturmabteilung (SA), the paramilitary
Brownshirts . Adolf Hitler moved against the SA and its leader, Ernst
Röhm, because he saw the independence of the SA and the penchant of its
members for street violence as a direct threat to his newly gained
political power . At least 85 people died during the purge, although
the final death toll may have been in the hundreds, and more than a
thousand perceived opponents were arrested. Most of the killings were
carried out by the Schutzstaffel (SS) and the Gestapo (Geheime
Staatspolizei), the regime's secret police .Röhm was held briefly at
Prison in Munich, while Hitler considered his future. In the end,
Hitler decided that Röhm had to die . On July 1, at Hitler's behest,
Theodor Eicke, later Commandant of the Dachau concentration camp, and
SS Officer Michel Lippert visited Röhm and killed him . Furthermore ,
¨The night of the broken glass¨ , as the night of November 9, 1938,
when terror attacks were made on Jewish synagogues and stores. Two days
earlier, Vom Rath, Third Secretary of the German Embassy in Paris , had
been assassinated by Grynszpan, a Polish Jew. In retaliation, Himmler
and Reinhard Heydrich, chief of the SD, ordered the destruction of all
Jewish places of worship in Germany and Austria . The assault had been
long prepared , the murder provided an opportunity to begin the attack.
In fifteen hours 101 synagogues were destroyed by fire and 76 were
demolished . The pillage and looting went on through the night ,
streets were covered with broken glass , hence the name Kristallnacht .
Reinhard Heydrich artificer of the meeting of senior officials of Nazi
Germany, held in the Berlin suburb of Wannsee on 20 January 1942. The
purpose of the conference, called by director of the Reich Main
Security Office; RSHA, SS-Obergruppenführer Reinhard Heydrich, was to
ensure the cooperation of administrative leaders of various government
departments in the implementation of the final solution to the Jewish
question, whereby most of the Jews of German-occupied Europe would be
deported to Poland and murdered . Later on , Heydrich leaves Berlin to
take up a new posting as Nazi Governor of Bohemia and Moravia
(Czechoslovakia) and there happens Heydrich's assassination, which
being well recreated . Other events being finely narrated are the
followings : Destruction radio station incriminating Polish rebels and
subsequent Poland encroachment (1939) , siege and defeat Stalingrado
(1943) , battle and fall Berlin (1945) .

2 out of 2 people found the following review useful:So-so warlike movie with James Caan who must lead a group of midget submarines in an attack on a German battleship., 23 February 2015

This war movie is loosely based on a real World War II mission,
Operation Source , which was staged during September 1943 and being
written by prestigious Edmund H. North . Operation Source involved a
number of secret attacks on a number of German battleships, in northern
Norway using X-class mini submarines . This film's 'Submarine X-1'
title refers to the X class submarine which was a real World War II
midget submarine class built for the Royal Navy during the 1943-44
period , the mini-subs were also known as X-Craft . After losing a
submarine and fifty crew in a battle with a German ship during WWII, a
Royal Navy officer , Lt. Commander Richard Bolton (James Caan received
top first billing amongst a cast of characters who are predominantly
English) , a Canadian , gets a second chance in a daring raid with
midget subs . The film begins with Commander Bolton and a few surviving
crew members of his 50-man submarine Gauntlet swimming ashore after
unsuccessfully attacking German battleship Lindendorf . After a review,
Captain Bolton is cleared of any wrong doing and placed in charge of a
small group of experimental X class submarines . His own men (Nick Tate
, Paul Young , Norman Bowler , William Dysart , among others) may prove
a bigger obstacle than any of his stiff-upper-lip officers . His
mission is to quickly train crews to man the submarines and sink the
Lindendorf (the real life World War II German battleship was 'Tirpitz')
while it is hidden away in a Norwegian Fiord . The submarines have been
tracking the movement of the German ships . Two of the submarines are
lost while attempting to cut through submarine nets at the entrance to
the fjord . As Bolton is forced to make hasty preparations for his
attack before their submarine base can be destroyed ..

Submarine X-1 is a 1969 British World War II war film loosely based on
the Operation Source attack on the German battleship Tirpitz in 1943 ,
it was also the subject of an earlier movie, Above Us the Waves (1955)
by Ralph Thomas with John Mills . It's a fictionalized recounting of
the Submarines X1 with a sustained and predictable story ,although
partially based on true deeds . Lots of underwater scenes and stock
WWII , especially when German paratroopers dropping from planes to
earth . Passable acting by James Caan as a commander whose mission is
put in charge of the submarines to quickly train crews and sink the
Lindendorf while it is hidden away in a Norwegian Fiord . The film
progresses with Commander Bolton training the crews of the three
submarine , even though the crew lacks faith in his command abilities .
He must overcome tensions with some of his former crew members , while
keeping their activities hidden from outsiders and German airplanes .
The highlights of the movie are the violent as well as exciting fights
of the crews who successfully fend off an attack by German commandos,
who discover their base . And thrilling scenes at the end when the
surviving submarine penetrates the submarine nets in the fjord and
places explosives under the German battleship . Atmospheric
cinematography by Paul Beeson , Walt Disney's usual cameraman, though
an alright remastering is necessary . Being filmed on location ,
shooting was filmed in Scotland . Good and enjoyable musical score by
Ron Goodwin .

The film was produced by Oakmont production , a company exclusively
dedicated to warfare films (Hell boats , Mosquito Squadron , Thousand
plane raid, Last escape) . The motion picture was middlingly realized
by William A Graham who displays enough some spectacular underwater
images to keep things interesting . Apparently, director William A.
Graham worked on the film's original screen story with writer/producer
John C. Champion but is uncredited for such . William A Graham directed
various TV series and episodes as ¨The fugitive¨, ¨The Virginian¨,
¨Breaking point¨ and occasionally for cinema as ¨Return to the Blue
Lagoon¨, ¨Waterhole¨ , ¨Guyana tragedy ¨ , ¨House of Garibaldi Street¨
and film-making several Westerns as ¨Montana¨ (90) ¨Billy the Kid¨ (89)
, ¨Last days of Frank and Jesse James¨ (86) and ¨Harry Tracy , the last
of the Wild Bunch¨.

2 out of 2 people found the following review useful:Acceptable Paella/Spaghetti Zorro Western co-produced by Spain/Italy , being decently directed by expert filmmaker Joaquin Romero Marchent, 23 February 2015

One of the first Paella or Tortlla Western filmed in Spain with
spectacular outdoors from Manzanares Del Real and Colmenar Viejo
(Madrid), locations where were filmed a lot of Westerns , pre-Almeria
boom . Acceptable Iberian Western professionally realized by the best
Tortilla Western director , Joaquin Romero Marchent . It packs
crossfire , thrills , action , go riding , lots of shots and gun-play .
This exciting western titled ¨Cabalgangando Hacia Muerte¨ (Spanish
title) , or ¨L'ombra di Zorro" - Italy (original title), or "The Shadow
of Zorro" - UK, USA title or "Shades of Zorro¨ has a breathtaking
showdown between the protagonist Frank Latimore and the enemies as
Robert Hundar , Raf Baldassarre and other hoodlums . It deals with two
brothers , the slimy , menacing outlaw Billy (Claudio Undari as Robert
Hundar) and Dan (Paul Piaget) who swear to carry out a bloody revenge
against Zorro when in previous film titled ¨Zorro the avenger¨ at a
confrontation resulted in brother's murder . As the nasty brothers
disguising as ¨The Zorro¨ and execute hold-ups , killings and
stagecoach assaults incriminating the real Zorro (Frank Latimore posing
as Don Jose De La Torre). As Billy and Dan are relentless in their
vendetta , deadly in their violence . The conflict is simple , one
between two merciless revenger killers against the masked Zorro .

This moving Zorro Western contains thrills , gun-play , shimmer
locations and being proceeded in American style more tan Spaghetti .
This Iberian western contains a story full of vengeance , good dramatic
pace and slick direction . This is a classical western before Leone's
style , it is an ordinary example of American western style though it
is partly Spanish and partly Italian . The Spanish westerns of this era
were far more likely to try and emulate their American source material
than cultivate a distinctive style of their own the way the Italians as
well as Spaniards were doing but their product, if you like traditional
westerns remains watchable . Interesting screenplay and story by Jose
Mallorqui , a notorious writer who wrote the successful ¨El Coyote¨
series . It results to be a trilling as well as a western vengeance
with lots of shots , fights and emotion . The film packs action ,
thrills , shootouts , drama , high body-count and entertainment . It's
a decent western with spectacular outdoors and breathtaking
confrontation among protagonists , as Frank Latimore who repeats his
role against two implacable brothers : Paul Piaget and Robert Hundar ,
-pseudonym of Claudio Undari- a Sicilian actor specialized in western
films , as he is magnificent as a violent gunfighter dressed in black ;
he steals the show as a merciless bandit similarly to Jack Palance's
Shane . Charismatic performance for whole casting , as there appears
usual Italian/Spanish Western support actors , a largely secondary cast
filled with familiar faces , all of them ordinary in Chorizo/Spaghetti
western , such as Maria Silva , Diana Lorys , José Marco Davo , Lorenzo
Robledo , Rufino Ingles , Xan Das Bolas , Carlos Romero Marchent :
director's brother , and many others . Although this time doesn't
appear the regular Fernando Sancho . The musician Manuel Parada
composes an atmospheric soundtrack and well conducted . Regular
cinematography , though being necessary a perfect remastering , filmed
by cameraman Rafael Pacheco on locations in Manzanares Del Real and
Colmenar Viejo , as usual ; including good sets by Jaime Perez Cubero
and Jose Luis Galicia , creating a nice scenario with luminous outdoors
, rocky landscapes under a glimmer sun and fine sets by these expert
set designers who carried out the most Production Design on Westerns
shot in Spain . They made a little town called ¨Golden City¨ where
filmed several Westerns as ¨Welcome Padre Murray¨ , ¨Brandy¨ , various
¨Zorros¨ directed by Marchent and this one .

The sequel was well produced by Copercines/Eduardo Manzanos Brochero
who produced various films for Marchent brothers as Joaquin Romero
Marchent : ¨El Coyote¨ , ¨Venganza Del Coyote¨, and this ¨Cabalgando
Hacia Muerte¨; and for Rafael Romero Marchent : ¨Quien Grita
vengeance¨, ¨Two crosses in Danger Pass¨ and being also financed by
PEA/Alberto Grimaldi , previously to produce his successful trilogy of
dollars/Sergio Leone . The motion picture was compellingly directed and
in traditional style by recently deceased Joaquin Marchent (1921-2012)
. He was an expert writer and director of good Western . His first film
was ¨El Coyote¨ and the sequel titled ¨Revenge of Coyote¨ shot in
Mexico . After that , he filmed ¨The shadow of Zorro¨ and ¨Revenge of
Zorro¨. He went go directing Western as ¨ Riding to death ¨ ,
¨Adventures in the West¨ , ¨Three good men¨, ¨Sabor Venganza ¨ and the
most popular and violent ¨Condenados a Vivir¨ . Plus , he wrote for his
brother Rafael Romero the following Westerns : ¨Manos Torpes¨, ¨Ocaso
un Pistolero¨ and ¨Garringo¨ . Rating : Acceptable ,it has its
entertaining moments here and there .

2 out of 2 people found the following review useful:Funny and agreeable screwball farce well shot in Miami by the great filmmaker Fernando Trueba, 22 February 2015

A very pleasant romantic comedy plenty of humor , emotion , fun scenes
and mayhem . Oscarized director Fernando Trueba , also writes the
interesting and bemusing script along with prestigious
screenwriter/director as well as brother David Trueba .This bewildering
farce deals with a young gallerist (Antonio Banderas , he gives
entertaining performance , though he fights to surmount by overacting)
is in love with two sisters at the same time . As a fabulously wealthy
divorcée (Melanie Griffith) to a mobster (Danny Aiello) and her sister
, an intelligent , sensible woman (Daryl Hanna) , then Art falls in
love with the younger one . In order to solve the problem he decides to
invent his own twin-brother called Dart . Two many women , so little
time.

Earthy as well screwball comedy with romantic elements , antics ,
amusements , contrivances , twists and turns ; including engaging
performances , adequate set design and being delightfully filmed . ¨Two
much¨ results to be other of the innumerable stories to deal with
romantic loves , being developed in mirth , lively and vital style . An
enjoyable story in which a rogue con swindles abstract pictures selling
to deceased people and discovers the opposite sex on the way by means
of two attractive sisters , both of whom utterly different ; it is
plenty of twisted moments , moving feelings and fun finale . It is a
light , wistful romantic comedy , easy to watch , and easier to love .
¨Two much" is Trueba's return to top form, with an intelligent and
enticing script written by Fernando and his brother David Trueba
adapted from a Donald Westlake novel ; screen-writers use amusing
situations to give us a good movie in a high sense and intimate
sensitivity and that kept me entertained for the almost two hours of
duration . It is well set and is as marvelously filmed as it is written
and acted . This is one of those rare gems that does not stray from its
purpose - to be a celebration of love and romance and humorous tale of
a young controlled by his wishes . The film is light and never somber ,
no small accomplishment from Fernando Trueba and his team . Filmed in
his usual formal and luxurious style , without leaving a trace the
joyful themes , in terms of nice developing and narrative excitement .
Fine acting by Antonio Banderas as Art Dodge , a roguish Miami art
dealer and his twin brother Dart , as he pretends to be his own brother
in order to pursue his new fiancée . Sympathetic acting by Melanie
Griffith as Betty Kerner who thinks he'll make a virile third husband .
In the film, Antonio Banderas and Melanie Griffith leave each other at
the wedding altar for other people . However, in real life, the two
actors fell in love during filming of this movie in 1995 and married a
year later and soon became parents to their daughter Stella. Very good
support cast formed by prestigious veterans such as Austin Pendleton ,
Allan Rich , Vincent Schiavelli , Phil Leeds , Sid Raymond and special
mention to the great Elli Wallach who recently passed away .
Furthermore , some known Spanish secondaries such as Gabino Diego and
Santiago Segura . Colorful and glimmer cinematography in Panavision by
Jose Luis Alcaine , one of the best Spanish cameramen , including
gorgeous exteriors filmed on location in Miami . Jolly as well as
lively musical score by Michael Camilo in Cuban style .

This simple , attractive and delightful motion picture was well
directed by Oscar-winning director Fernando Trueba , as the flick is
entertaining and well worth your time . His first success was Ópera
Prima (1980) following the style of the "Madrid comedy". Trueba had
major success with Sé Infiel y No mires Quién (1985) also known as : Be
Wanton and Tread No Shame , starting a longer collaboration with the
producer Andrés Vicente Gómez . He went on directing numerous successes
such as Coarse salt , Year of Enlightment , Milagro de Candeal , Niña
De Tus Ojos or The Girl of Your Dreams , Calle 54 , Embrujo De Shanghai
, Chico and Rita and recently : The Artist and the Model. The
multi-award winner in Spain Fernando Trueba was President of the
Spanish Academy of Motion Picture Arts and he received the 1994 Oscar
for Best Foreign Film to Belle Epoque (1992)and when accepting his
Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, director (Fernando
Trueba) said: "I would like to believe in God in order to thank him for
this prize, but I only believe in (Billy Wilder), so... Thank you, Mr.
Wilder!". Wilder himself reportedly phoned Trueba a few days later for
acknowledgment and told him: "Hello Fernando, I'm God" . And this ¨Two
much¨ , it was a big success in Spain and a considerable flop in the US
.